The problem with history and many of the institutionalized cultural knowledge is that, normally, it only recognizes a past made by opinion leaders, or meaning makers, or memory makers of a society, who select memory items from the past, relate with recent items and prepare them for consolidation into stable collective memories. We embody those narratives of events and we are led to believe that they constitute the criteria to experience and measure our past and present realities, leaving behind all the other angles from which other individuals and communities looked at the same events. Who owns the job of deciding which stories to remember and which stories to forget? Can we be involved in this decision making?

CO-LAB COPENHAGEN invites international artists and Danish officials from different Danish public institutions, to collaborate during a month residence, to create a new performative work. The 8 international artists are selected for their ability to give voice to counter-stories and personal interpretations of official narratives in their own countries. They are paired with representatives of Danish national institutions, archives and media. Two ways of memory-making meet and exchange knowledge and inspiration. At four public events, the audience will meet the different pairs and will be invited to take part in the process.